To the Grand Palace

On Wednesday I went out on my first big excursion alone to the Grand Palace and I was stunned at all the detail that went into creating these buildings. When I first got there my taxi driver dropped me off infront of the gates and I got harranged by a Thai who told me that the Grand Palace was closed untill 1:30 for the Thai people only, it was 12:00 at this point, so instead of standing around waiting I could take a Tuk Tuk tour and see a huge 45m tall Buddha then go to some shops around Bangkok. Heather had warned me that this would happen and to not listen to people like this because it is just a waste of time, however I was kinda curious about the standing Buddha so I climbed aboard the Tuk Tuk and took off on a journey of amazment and annoyance. The frist stop was the standing Buddha which was stunning I have never seen anything like that before, it was huge!This little scupture caught my eye because of all the fine detailing on the sides. On each level was an intricate design of figures resembling demons or people.















After the Buddha my Tuk Tuk driver took me to a bunch of different shops that I probably wouldn't have gone into on my own. He took me to six different shops: two tailors, two jewelery shops, a travel and tourisim shop and some handi craft store. The idea was that I spend at least five minutes in each one and he gets a kick back on free gas or something. So if ever at the Grand Palace and someone tells you it's closed, go check for yourself. After an hour and a half on a Tuk Tuk I was about ready to lose my lunch but luckly the trip was over and I could now explore the Grand Palace.

I was amazed at all the fine detail that the Grand Palace held from the figurines to the buildings there was care and effort put into every inch of the place. I didn't get a tour guide to show me around because I was kind of sick of going around with someone that I didn't know and didn't want to be around so I explored the site on my own.

After about an hour I was sun baked and tired of walking around so I hopped into a cab and went to meet Heather at her school. The cabbie wanted 700 baht for the cab ride, I paid about 200 on the way over, and I was about ready to get out and get another cab but then I bartered down to 400 and was so tired from the day that I just wanted to go so I paid the extra baht and we were on our way.
Today we are going to Wat Hin for the weekend, it is a little place in the North east of Thailand just south of Laos. I'm pretty excited to go out of Bangkok and get some much needed beach action.
Untill Next time
Ray